A pump-action shotgun seized by the Garda, and which ought to have been in safe storage as proof, obtained again into the palms of individuals concerned in critical organised crime. It was seized for a second time throughout one other, separate, Garda operation focusing on feuding prison gangs.
It was solely when the gun was seized for the second time that gardaí realised it was the identical pump-action shotgun beforehand discovered throughout searches. A prison investigation is now underneath approach into how the gun discovered its approach again into circulation within the prison fraternity.
The Irish Instances has discovered the matter has induced such concern inside senior Garda administration that Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has despatched a report back to Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and the Policing Authority alerting them to it.
In reply to queries, Garda Headquarters confirmed the gun was seized, for the second time, within the final 12 months “as a part of an operation right into a feud between two prison gangs”.
“Two days later, following examination of the firearms, the senior investigating officer discovered that one of many firearms, a pump-action shotgun, had beforehand been seized by gardaí in 2009. Information confirmed that it was alleged to be nonetheless in possession of gardaí within the east of the nation.”
It mentioned a prison investigation started, and was nonetheless ongoing, “into how the firearm left the management of An Garda Síochána and got here into the possession” of individuals suspected of concerned in feuding. There had been “vital current public remark” of late across the “correct management and recording” of evidential objects within the Garda’s possession, the Garda reply mentioned.
Because of this, Mr Harris has despatched a report on the matter to Ms McEntee and the Policing Authority underneath Part 41 of the Garda Síochána Act. This offers for the commissioner of the day to offer data to the minister or authority about “vital developments that may fairly be anticipated to have an effect on adversely public confidence” within the Garda.
It’s the second Part 41 report in current weeks Mr Harris has despatched to Ms McEntee and the authority after objects had been taken from the Garda’s property and reveals administration system (PEMS). One was additionally despatched on the case of the Garda member being suspended and investigated over a motorcycle being taken from the PEMS system, with out advance permission, after which given to a neighborhood man within the midlands.
The Irish Instances understands the pump-action shotgun on the centre of the newer case was initially legally held by a firearms vendor. Nevertheless, it was stolen throughout a housebreaking in 2004. Some 5 years later it was seized throughout a Garda operation towards organised crime suspects within the Leinster space.
When it was seized, the gun underwent ballistics testing and was then secured within the Garda’s PEMS system, which is used to securely retailer proof and property seized by the Garda. This contains money, weapons and medicines from organised crime gangs in addition to stolen or unclaimed property.
The gun ought to have remained within the Garda safe proof shops as its theft in 2004, and its seizure in 2009, remained underneath investigation. Nevertheless, it was seized once more lower than a 12 months in the past as a part of an operation focusing on different prison teams who had by some means come into possession of it.
The seizure of the gun in 2009 and once more in current months are unrelated incidents, involving two completely different teams of suspects in numerous elements of the nation.